whole insects mounted without pressure; and choice stained and injected preparations?-A. J. Doherty, 63 Burlington 'Street, Manchester.

WANTED, all or any of the following shells:-Trochus millegranus, T. Agathensis, T. alabastrum, Mangelia (pleurotoma) Teres, M. cancellata, M. reticulatum, M. leufroyi, M. linearis, M. scabia, M. guinniana, M. nana, M. striolata, M. coarctatus, Anomia striata, Nucula sulcata, Arca tetragona, Tellina balaustina, Lutraria oblonga, Saxicava Norvegica, Pholas crispata, Thracia distorta, T. pubescens, T. villosiuscula, Fusus Islandicus, F. Turtoni, F. Berniciensis and Isocardia Cor. Will give any other rare British shells, fossils, minerals, polished Devonian corals, or sections of corals, ready for mounting for the micro.-A. J. R. Sclater, M.C.S., 23 Bank Street, Teignmouth, Devon.

WANTED, vols. 14-19 of " Entomologist's Monthly Magazine," or any of them, in numbers or otherwise; also numbers from January 1886 to present time, inclusive. Will give in exchange numbers of "Popular Science Review," microscopic slides, or cash.-C. F. George, Kirton-in-Lindsay.

I SHOULD be glad if any conchologist would oblige me with any of the following, to complete a collection for a school museum:-B. Leachii, V. cristata, Pl. lineatus, nitidus, Ph. hypnorum, fontinalis, Sph. ovale, P. roseum. nitidum, L. glutinosa, involuta, A. lacustris, S. oblonga, H. lamellata, cartusiana, concinna, pygmæa, C. Rolphii, vertigo (any species). -Chas. A. Whatmore, Much Marcle, Herefordshire.

DRAGONFLIES wanted from all parts of the British Isles, fresh and unset preferred. Offered, A. adippe, G. rhamni, A. selene, A. euphrosyne, L. sinapis, and many others.-W. Harcourt Bath, Ladywood, Birmingham.

WANTED, anything photographic, in exchange for quantity of micro-slides and unmounted objects.-J. Wain Wilshaw, 455 Shoreham Street, Sheffield.

UNBOUND volumes of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, "Design and Work," "Amateur Work," and "English Mechanic," in exchange for good tripod stand, -plate lens, or photographic literature.J. Wain Wilshaw, 455 Shoreham Street, Sheffield.

FOR exchange:- Tabular View of Orders and Families of Mollusca," by Dr. Woodward (500 figures), in book form, published at 4s.; "Objects of Microscope," by Lane Clark (coloured plates), published at 3s. 6d. "Magician's Own Book, with 999 Tricks," published at 3s. 6d; Common Outdoor Birds," by Stannard," published at 1s. 6d. The above are all in good condition, nearly new. Natural history books, or good shells and fossils wanted in exchange; books preferred. -Ernest O. Meyers, Richmond House, Hounslow, W.

To Egg Collectors.-Have several "Sooty Ferns" and other rare eggs to exchange for side-blown, one-hole, authentic specimens, clutches preferred.-Commander Young, R.N., Rodwell, Weymouth.

DUPLICATES.-Z. excavatus. Wanted, S. ovale, P. nitidum, P. roseum, L. glutinosa, S. virescens, S. Pfeifferi, S. oblonga, H. lamellata, H. revelata, H. furca, H. obvoluta, B. montanus, A. lineata.--A. Hartley, 5 Albert Street, Springfield, Idle.

ENGRAVINGS of varieties of unios and anodons, for Anodonta anatina or Unio pictorum.-Geo. Roberts, Lofthouse, Wakefield.

L. C., 8th edition. Wanted-74, 1136, 1188, 1250, 16666. Will give in exchange any of the following:-588, 620, 1558, 1597, 1627, 1628, 1692.-W. W. Reeves, 32 Geneva Road, Brixton, S. W.

OFFERED, "Leisure Time Studies (Wilson); "Nature's Bye-paths" (Taylor); "English Folk-Lore" (Dyer). Wanted, "Geology of England and Wales" (H. B. Woodward), 2nd edition.-J. Smith, Monkredding, Kilwinning.

OFFERED, good quantity of the fine diatomaceous deposit from Poplein, U.S.A., and other localities, in exchange for similar and other good micro material and slides.-W. D. Stewart, 2 Gilmore Terrace, Edinburgh.

WANTED, animal hairs for micro mounting; good exchange in micro and lantern slides, &c. Lists exchanged.-W. D. Stewart, 2 Gilmore Terrace, Edinburgh.

WILL exchange nests and well-blown eggs of nightingale, blackcap, willow wren, shrike, meadow pipit, landrail, grebe, &c., for nests and eggs of reed, grasshopper, Dartford and garden warblers lesser whitethroat, cirl and common buntings. -Harry F. Medley, Romsey, Hampshire.

Two dozen histological slides, in case, for any suitable offer; also earlier edition of Cassell's "Book of Birds," parts 1-28. Wanted, British coleoptera and hymenoptera.-J. B. Mayor, 5 Queen's Terrace, Longsight, Manchester.

SPECIMENS of Unio margaritifer wanted from any district in Ireland, especially Co. Tyrone. Good exchange in same species from its only known Lancashire station, or other land and freshwater shells.-R. Standen, Swinton, Manchester.

WANTED, British or foreign lepidoptera; British land and freshwater shells offered in exchange.-T. A. Lofthouse, 67 Grange Road, Middlesbro'.

WANTED, good works on British lepidoptera and conchology. "Flowers of the Sky" (Proctor); "Naturalist's World" for 1886, unbound; "Civil Engineers' and Architects' Journal," vols. 7 and 10, and odd numbers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP offered in exchange.-T. A. Lofthouse, 67 Grange Road, Middlesbro'.

FINE specimens of gold sulphuret, malachite, carnelian, bloodstone, and other minerals, offered for good foreign marine shells; will send sketches, to size, on receipt of lists.-W. J. Jones, jun., 27 Mayton Street, Holloway, London, N.

WANTED, Geikie's "Text-Book of Geology;" Rutley's "Study of Rocks;" Ganot's "Physics;" Dana's "Mineralogy," 1887, and Greenwood's "Metallurgy." Good exchange given. J. D., 146 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

WANTED, student's microscope fitted with polariscope, &c. Offered, mahogany case of hydrometers, fossils, minerals, books, &c.-J. D., 146 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

SOME exquisitely beautiful species of exotic lepidoptera, in good condition and well set. What offers?-Joseph Anderson, jun., Alre Villa, Chichester.

WANTED, pupa of British lepidoptera; will make a return in imagos.-Joseph Anderson, jun., Alre Villa, Chichester.

BRITISH and foreign shells and minerals, collection of British mosses (in book), a remora (sucking fish), and a rhinoceros horn, in exchange for a tricycle, safety bicycle, or fancy pigeons.-F. Marriott, 69 Duke Street, Old Trafford, Manchester.

WANTED, Nos. 74 and 75 of SCIENCE-GOSSIP (1871) to make up set; will give in exchange two good micro-slides for each or any part.-J. J. Andrews, 2 Belgravia, Belfast.

I HAVE H. Pomatia and Cyclostoma elegans, also the egg of an Egyptian goose; what offers? Should like marine shells, birds' eggs, or curios.-Archibald Hy. McBean, S. Denys, Southampton.

WANTED, telescope, microscope, or drawing instruments in exchange for miscellaneous or educational books.-G. Newton, 7 Basuto Road, Fulham, London.

SPECIMENS from about fifty or sixty species and varieties of British land and freshwater shells, named and localised, for a similar number of land and freshwater shells of other countries. -T. Rogers, 27 Oldham Road, Manchester.

WANTED, a good-inch or -inch objective; will give firstclass diatom slides in exchange.-T. B. Bessell, 8 Elmgrove Road, Bristol.

WANTED, a German-English Dictionary: will give good exchange in diatom slides.-T. B. Bessell, 8 Elmgrove Road, Bristol.

WANTED, freshwater alga, mounted or unmounted; will give in exchange other good microscopic slides or other unmounted objects.-J. Collins, 23 Roland Road, Lozells, Birmingham.

To Egg Collectors.-I will exchange splendid specimen of Pallas' sand-grouse egg, for golden eagle or other rare eggs.Chas. Fidler, New Square, Chesterfield.

OFFERED, "Journal of Postal Microscopical Society" for 1882 and 1883, and "Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science," 1884-7 (24 parts). Wanted, "Geologist" for 1859-60. -J. Smith, Monkredding, Kilwinning.

WANTED, British birds' eggs in clutches; also cuckoos. Can offer various natural history specimens.-W. K. Mann, Wellington Terrace, Clifton, Bristol.

WANTED, micro object cases (not racked) to hold 144 slides; also glass-capped boxes. Named and localised fossils, from various formations, offered in exchange.-P. Thompson, 19 Guerin Street, Bow, London, E.

P. glaber, P. dilatatus, Valvata piscinalis, H. arbustorum, and others, in exchange for British or foreign land and freshwater or marine shells.-W. Dean, 50 Canning Street, Stoneyholme, Burnley, Lancashire.

P. glaber in exchange for other land and freshwater shells.Thomas Ingham, 3 Railway Street, Darwen Terrace, Blackpool.

BOOKS, ETC., RECEIVED.

"Story of the Nations: Assyria" (London: T. Fisher Unwin). Nature's Fairy Land," by H. W. G. WorsleyBenison (London: Elliot Stock).-"Trans. Leeds Geological Association."-" Illustrated Manual of British Birds," Part III. -"Book Chat."-"The Amateur Photographer."-"The Garner."-"The Naturalist."-"The Botanical Gazette.". "Journal of the New York Microscopical Society." "Belgravia."-" The Gentleman's Magazine."-" American Monthly Microscopical Journal."-" The Essex Naturalist.""The Midland Naturalist."-Feuilles des Jeunes Naturalistes." "The American Naturalist."-" Journal of the Trenton Nat. Hist. Soc.," January.-"Eleventh Annual Report of Hackney Microscopical Soc."-"Trans. Chichester and West Sussex Nat. Hist. and Microscopical Soc."-" Journal of Microscopy and Nat. Science."" Ottawa Naturalist.""Scientific News."-" Wesley Naturalist," &c., &c.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED UP TO THE 12TH ULT. FROM: C. W.-J. T. P.-J. D. Y.-F. L.-E. E. G.-A. J. D.W. K. M.-Rev. H. W.-W. B. W.-W. A. C.-E. L.-Dr. G. C.-B. A.-F. H. A.-S. J.-M. A.-Dr. J. R.-P. J. F. H. A.-S. D.-Rev. C. J. S. B.-W. J. S.-T. D. A. Č.W. J. S.-E. B.-R. D. A.-C. F. G.-C. R.-W. G.W. J. S.-Dr. H. W. W. B.-H. M.-R. W.-B. H.-J. S. G. -H. J. G.-G. A. M.-S. D.-J. J. A.-J. A. H.-G. A. G. -C. W.-W. J.-H. W. B.-R. C. R. J.-S. H., &c., &c.

66

E have been friends and companions for nearly seven years. We SO thoroughly understood each other that we rarely quarrelled for quarrels are always the result of misunderstanding. I am not quite a believer in the Indian doctrine of metempsychosis, but there is something in it. "All creatures meet in man," said good George Herbert.

You find one man "foxy" in cunning, another "weasely" in suspicion, a third "hoggish" in feeding or 'fishy" in drinking (or both). The best thing you can say of a man is that he is as "faithful as a dog." So, you see, the dog bears the palm from the

man!

My dog had nothing human about him, and was therefore an ideal dog. He was as well known about the town as myself. Even the butcher-boys seldom teased him. You would hear the lads calling, "Bruce, Bruce," to him in any part of Ipswich, whenever we wandered in search of quaint undescribed archæological" bits." The little dogs often followed him, and sometimes barked at him, but Bruce took no more notice of them than he did of the musical chimes of St. Matthew's Church. He was a Prince among dogs. He never stooped to anything mean, or low, or cowardly. He was unpunctual sometimes in his returns from calling on his friends; but nobody would No. 284.-AUGUST 1888.

have known it if his own conscience had not forced him to assume that depressed appearance we call "hang-dog." Nor did he come up to Professor Huxley's definition of a dog as an arrant cad". one which only barked at people who were ragged, and reserved his attentions for the well-clad. Bruce did prefer well-dressed and good-mannered peoplewho does not? That was all. As he used to lie outside my garden-gate, with his fore-feet stretched out, and his magnificent, black, square head between his paws, there was not a working man going or returning from dinner who did not stop to pat him, and say, "Bruce, good Bruce!" And Bruce responded by a gentle switch of his great feathery tail, which sent the flies spinning. The babies tottered up to him, and pulled his long silken ears, and gave him biscuits. Even the cats passed him by without setting up their backs, for they had found out that Bruce was harmless.

Bruce was my literary friend. He has lain hours, days, months at my feet whilst I have been writing. He has listened, with one twitching ear, whilst I have read aloud to myself some sentence I had written which I thought unusually good-and afterwards dropped it, wondering what it was all about, and what good in the world it was to a dog! How well he knew me! I had my moments of depression, of anxiety, of low-spiritedness-frequently brought on from assiduous over-work and over-worry. Bruce knew! Often has he silently thrust his great, cold, black nose into my hand at such times. I knew what he meant "Cheer up, master; 'Heart beneath and God o'erhead'!"

Bruce came to me in disgrace. He was a fine black, smooth-haired, retriever, and his crime was that he would not retrieve. Perhaps he was like myself he didn't care to have anything to do with that form of pleasure which is connected with suffering and death. I fancy some keeper must have peppered him in disgust at his unexpected and non-sportive

I

qualities, for he never heard a gun fired without cutting home as fast as he could. Nevertheless, the instincts of his breed were there. I have a stupid habit of lingering by wayside stone-heaps, and poking among the stones, if haply I may find some flint implement or fossils. Likewise a gravel, clay, or sand-pit has a similar attraction for me that a public-house has for other men-I cannot pass one. Bruce soon found all these weaknesses out. On a country ramble, if he were ahead, Bruce never passed a stone-heap or a gravel-pit-he stood there till I came up, and said as plainly as an intelligent dog could, "Master, are you going in here this morning?" I have seen that look hundreds of times, and said to him, "Not this morning, Bruce;" whereupon he wagged his huge tail at the compliment that he was understood, and proceeded on his own canine investigations. I used to say to my friends, "Bruce knows as much about geology as most men," whereupon some of the easilysurprised ones said "Indeed!" and the others, who were conscious that they knew no more of geology than my dog did, laughed at my weak joke.

Bruce was nearly as old as my youngest child. They were almost babies together. As soon as my baby-daughter could toddle, Bruce was her companion and playfellow. She rode astride his big black back, and Bruce would then put out his great red-flannel strip of a tongue on one side, as if he were proud that a mere dog could be so useful. The children played "Little Red Riding Hood" with him. He was the "Wolf," and was put to bed with a white night-cap on his splendid black head-only he wouldn't go to sleep, or pretend to. He preferred to see what was going on, and every now and then to put in a word or two, and interrupt the dialogue in the form of a sharp bark.

The last time Bruce appeared in public (for he frequently made his way surreptitiously on to my platform) was a few weeks ago, when Mr. Leighton Bailey gave his lecture on Australia, and I proposed a vote of thanks. The people called out "platform," and on to the platform I went. There was a large audience, and they cheered me. Then, just as I was speaking, there was another cheer. It was for Bruce, who had followed me, and now stood confronting the audience I was addressing, greeting their cheers with a few short but vigorous barks. The more they cheered the more he barked at them, until, at a word from me, he coiled himself up, and the subsequent proceedings interested him no more.

Such was my canine friend of seven years' standing -faithful, obedient, sympathetic. We found him last Friday morning-dead. Evidently he had been poisoned, and I don't envy the brute who unfortunately poisoned him. The children cried and sobbed. I felt that another friend had joined those on the Silent Shore. But I am thankful I ever had the friendship of Bruce. I am a better man for it; and God has not sent even a dog into the world without a purpose!

REMARKS ON BRITISH BOTANY, AND ON PLANT COLLECTING.

IT

By A. BENNETT, F.L.S.

T is seven years since the author of "The Cybele Britannica," Mr. H. C. Watson, died. Since that time how many of our local botanists have made themselves acquainted with his compendium of the above work, issued in 1870? I fear far too few; and yet it is the most interesting of all his works on our flora, whether we consider its range as showing the distribution of our flora in Britain, or outside of our country, the numerous valuable comments on sub-species and varieties, or the attempt to eliminate the doubtful records from the real. His later work, “Topographical Botany," goes into more detail, and shows the county distribution of every species (then known) of our flora, and in its second edition is available to all (the first being only privately printed). Now, my reason for writing these notes is to call more attention to these works of Mr. Watson, and to beg of collecting botanists to try and gather better and fuller specimens than many now do. It is really quite unfair to those who are asked to name specimens to send wretched fragments (such as are often sent!) on which a man must either stake his reputation, or give possible offence from a supposed want of courtesy by refusing to name such. And the more critical the genus, the greater need for full specimens. An experience of a few years with the various exchange clubs compels me to say, that generally we are behind Continental botanists in the usefulness and scope of our gathered specimens.

And again, our botanists generally fail to tell us in what sort of a place the plant grows; the parish is given, but usually not a hint whether it is on a heath, roadside, common, &c. Not that all are so lax; there are now several of our botanists who are most careful to indicate the height, situation, &c., on their labels; these are hence valuable, especially if from a province where the range was not known, or only imperfectly known to Mr. Watson. I had through my hands last year some hundreds of voucher-records from Scotland, and the difference in the way they were recorded was remarkable; some thought the year and county was sufficient, others put on their labels all that one could desire or expect. Much of this, I fear, comes from the rage to collect rarities ; of course, most of us want to gather some "good things," as we call them; but I shall never forget the words that good and estimable botanist, the Rev. W. W. Newbould, said to me when I was first introduced to him: "Don't hunt for rarities, but gather all, and examine all, and you will find more rare things than rushing from one place to another after them," and my experience is, he was perfectly right.

With many of us our time is limited and oppor tunities few; but I could point to several botanists

with little spare time who have done some good work; in fact, more so than many with plenty of leisure.

Some have urged, "We cannot send our notes anywhere;" but this is wrong, with the numerous natural history journals, and in nearly every county there is now some scientific society (a long list of these societies was published in this journal a few years ago), and now many are linked together in "Unions;" for example, "The East of Scotland Natural History Union," "The Yorkshire Naturalists' Union," and the Midland. We want such for the South of England; or, if the ground is thought too wide, the south-east and south-west. These societies are of great benefit, as bringing under more experienced eyes the work of the several ones affiliated to them, and the chances of errors being disseminated becomes much less.

We cannot grumble at the want of good books in our flora, with such books as Babington's "Manual," Hooker's "Student's Flora," and Bentham's "Ilandbook;" it is probable that at no time have such accurate and full Floras been extant. Yet, even now, my own impression is that we have still a great deal more to learn of the life-histories of our plants than is usually thought.

Of course, the botanist who really wants to know all he can about our 'plants will not be contented with these Floras even, but will seek more extended information in such works as Symes's "English Botany" (3rd ed.), now to be found in most good libraries where books are lent out.

If he can read French, I would advise him to get the last edition of Lloyd's "Flore de l'ouest de la France;" if Latin, Koch's "Synopsis of the German and Swiss Floras." Unfortunately, I know of no book so accessible as these for Scandinavian plants. Fries' are now getting old, and the admirable "Handbook" of Hartman is written in Swedish.

But our botanist must not make the mistake (as Professor Babington remarks in his "Manual") of thinking that he has found a new British plant because it seems to fit the description of a Continental species; but a reference to Professor Babington or Mr. J. G. Baker would soon decide what he had gathered, to both of whom we owe so much of the great advance in British botany since 1843.

ones.

Another thing we much want in British botany is, that more botanists would take up the study of particular orders and genera, and work at them with a view to correlating our forms with the W. European It may not be out of place here to name some of those who will be glad of help in the respective genera (it is needless here to name Professor Babington for rubi, or Mr. Baker for the roses), such as Mr. Hanbury for Hieracia (who is engaged on an illustrated monograph of the British species), Mr. F. Townsend for Erythræa and Euphrasia, Mr. Beeby for Spargania and Junci, the Messrs. Groves for

Characea, and I myself should be glad of help in Potamogeton (as would my good friend Mr. Fryer of Chatteris), Carex or Salix. But we still want many others taken up, such as the Batrachian Ranunculi, Potentilla, Mentha, Rumex, Atriplex, &c., and some of the genera of grasses as Agrostis, Poa, or Festuca.

It is only fair to say, that where specimens are asked to be returned, stamps should be sent to cover postage by parcel post, as this is now an inexpensive way of sending specimens. A large number may be sent in one parcel, if care is taken to use thin paper; it matters little how thin the paper is, so long as the outside covers are stout and tightly bound by string.

If these crude notes, written as they are as a sort of general reply to many queries, should stimulate to the study more, and the rarity hunting less among our flora, I shall be content.

NOTES ON THE FLORA OF THE
SOUTH DOWNS.

MR. LAMB has already given an interesting

paper on the Flora of the North Downs, and perhaps a few notes on the South Downs around Lewes may be useful as a further illustration of the flora of the chalk formation.

As might be expected, many of the species are identical, but there are some few exceptions and additions.

The Chalk Hills of East Sussex are remarkably free from wood, except some few plantations chiefly on the northern slopes; they thus differ very much from the Downs of West Sussex and of Kent.

It may be convenient to divide the plants into three divisions-those of the open down; those of the cultivated tracts, which tracts have lately been much on the increase, and those of the woods.

Taking the open down first, the most noticeable plants are Poterium sanguisorba, Hippocrepis comosa, Ononis arvensis, Phyteuma orbiculare, Scabiosa columbaria, Anthyllis vulneraria, and its variety Dillenii, Spirea filipendula, Pimpinella saxifraga, Asperula cynanchica, Polygala vulgaris and calcarea, Linum catharticum, Thymus serpyllum, Cnicus acaulis, Carlina vulgaris, Gentiana amarella and campestris, Orchis ustulata, Ophrys apifera, Gymnadenia conopsea, Thesium humifusum, Senecio campestris, Cerastium semidecandrum, Orchis pyramidalis, mascula and morio, Habenaria viridis, Ophrys aranifera, and Herminium monorchis, Helianthemum vulgare, and Viola flavicornis-a dwarf form of Viola hirta also occurs, which does not seem to be quite the same as the Viola calcarea of Cambridgeshire. The bulk of the turf consists of Festuca ovina, and Bromus erectus, with here and there an admixture of Kaleria cristata, Briza media, Avena flavescens, and on the

northern slopes in places the very conspicuous Brachypodium pinnatum.

In the rougher places among the abundant furze Ulex Europeus (U. nanus does not occur), and on broken declivities and edges of cultivated ground, grow Rosa micrantha, Rosa rubiginosa rarely, Rosa spinosissima and Rosa sepium, the last named very local, Carduus nutans and crispus, Centaurea scabiosa, Inula conyza, Centaurea calcitrapa, C. solstitialis (locally), Echium vulgare (especially near the sea), Onobrychis sativa, Hyoscyamus niger, Cynoglossum officinale, Verbena officinalis, Galeopsis tetrahit, Chlora perfoliata, the very local Seseli libanotis, Hypericum hirsutum, Conium maculatum, Senecio erucifolius, Lactuca muralis, Campanula trachelium, Marrubium vulgare, etc., Juniperus communis, so common in West Sussex, is extremely rare here, and only grows to the height of a few inches.

The cultivated tracts produce, besides the usual plants of such districts, some interesting species, among which may be mentioned Papaver argemone and hybridum, Lithospermum arvense, Galium tricorne, Linaria elatine, spuria, and minor.

The wooded parts are chiefly composed of beech and ash, oak only occasionally occurs. The undergrowth contains Viburnum lantana, and more rarely Rhamnus catharticus; Pyrus aria is rare. These woods are rich in orchids. The following species grow rather commonly -Listera ovata, Cephalanthera grandiflora, Orchis maculata, Ophrys muscifera, Habenaria chlorantha, and Neottia Nidus-avis, while Herminium monorchis, Cephalanthera ensifolia, and Aceras anthropophora are rare. hirta is common, and Viola permixta, resembling in some respects both hirta and odorata, is frequently found. Geranium pratense and columbinum occur in a few restricted localities, as well as Daphne mezereum. About seventeen species of Orchidacea are recorded from the chalk of East Sussex.

Viola

Of the species mentioned by Mr. Lamb, the following I have never seen on the chalk of East Sussex, viz. Helleborus fætidus, Papaver somniferum, Malva moschata (common in the Weald), Atropa belladonna, Verbascum Lychnitis, Ajuga chamapitys, Buxus sempervirens, Orchis militaris and fusca, and Epipactis latifolia (a wealden plant), while Iris fætidissima is very rare, and Taxus baccata invariably planted. Ophrys arachnites, Orchis hircina and O. simia, which have been met with on the chalk in Kent, are quite unknown in Sussex, and we miss entirely Astragalus hypoglottis, Thalictrum saxatile, and Anemone pulsatilla, which are characteristic of the chalk of Cambridgeshire.

4 East Street, Lewes.

J. H. A. JENNER.

I

ON VARIOUS ROTIFERS (ASPLANCHNA MYRMELEO).

By C. ROUSSELET.

HAD the good fortune a few days ago to find this fine and very rare Rotiferon, which has not yet been properly figured nor described, and only recorded once in England.

Dr. Hudson, in a footnote on page 123, vol. i. of his recent work on the Rotifera, says: "His (Ehrenberg's) Notommata myrmeleo is unknown in England, but Leydig has made it clear that in this instance Ehrenberg has made a mistake, and that the Rotiferon has not got the cloaca which Ehrenberg describes. It is therefore an Asplanchna with a foot; one much resembling that of Notops clavulatus. Its jaws, ovary, vascular system and eye resemble those of A. Brightwellii."

Fig. 74.-Asplanchna myrmeleo. Female x 75.

And in Addenda to the same work, Mr. P. H. Gosse remarks of Asplanchna myrmeleo: This interesting species is no longer an alien. Mr. Hood has lately sent me from Dundee, living and healthy examples. They seemed to possess no contractile vesicles."

No figure is given, and Pritchard's illustration of this species, which he evidently copied from some